This section deals only with private sector claims from customers who:

• are under the age of 25 and
• live alone and
• are not responsible for a child.

If you are not single and under 25 you should read section -

‘Housing Benefit restrictions for private tenants’.

How do the rules work?

When a private tenant claims Housing Benefit, we have to refer the case to the Rent Officer Service. They are independent officials who will decide if the rent being charged is reasonable. They do not set the level of rent that you have to pay. What they do is decide the level of rent that we can use to work out Housing Benefit.

In the case of single people under the age of 25, the Rent Officer Service will give a figure based on the cost of single room accommodation with shared use of toilet and kitchen facilities. This figure is known as the single room rent.

We have to restrict Housing Benefit to the level of the single room rent for people who are under 25.

How much is the single room rent?

The single room rent is based on what the Rent Officer Service think is the cost of single roomed accommodation at the time you apply for Housing Benefit. This figure may change from month to month.

Experience shows us that in Derby the single room rent is normally £42.00.

What happens if you cannot afford to pay the difference?

We can pay above the levels set by the Rent Officer in certain areas. This money is paid as top up to Housing Benefit and is known as a Discretionary Housing Payment. You need to fill in a claim form if you want to apply for Discretionary Housing Payments.

In Derby we aim to pay this extra money where we can. However, the amount of money available is limited, and there will be some cases where we cannot help.

Please contact us if you want any further advice about this.

How can you find out exactly how much Housing Benefit will be paid before taking on a tenancy?

Download a Pre-Tenancy Determination Form  - 41 Kb. Or ask for one at our reception on the Ground Floor next to the payments counters in the Council House or any local housing office  in the city. You can also request a form by email at benefit.enquiries@derby.gov.uk or by telephoning Benefit enquiries 01332 255122 or by textphone on 01332 255116.

Fill in the form and get your intended landlord to sign it. We then pass this to the Rent Officer Service who will tell you what level of rent would be used to work out your Housing Benefit.

You can download notes on how to complete a Pre-Tenancy Determination Form  in PDF format - 27kb.

When is Housing Benefit for single people under 25 not restricted?

When:

• you are a council tenant
• your landlord is a Housing Association. However, your rent could still be restricted even though your landlord is a Housing Association if your rent is unreasonably high. See section - ‘Housing Benefit restrictions for private tenants’ for details /LI>
• you have claimed Housing Benefit continuously at the same address since before 7th October 1996. Your Housing Benefit comes under a different set of rules.
• you have a non-dependant in your household
• you are aged under 22 and were formally in care or in accommodation provided by Social Services under The Children's Act 1989.
• you qualify for severe disability premium
• you live in a hostel